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Late at Tate Liverpool: Folie à Deux

On the last Thursday of every month Tate Liverpool is open late for special events, music, food, drink and the best modern and contemporary art. This month’s Late at Tate on Thursday 24 April (18.00–21.00) is inspired by the French phrase, Folie à Deux which literally translates as, ‘a madness shared by two’ and explores similar themes to those featured in Tate Liverpool’s current exhibition of work by Franco-American artist, Niki de Saint Phalle. One of the key elements in her work was collaboration: performances and large scale public art installations were mediums in which de Saint Phalle experimented throughout her career and she created sculptures and films alongside her partner, the celebrated artist Jean Tinguely. She also worked closely with leading figures such as Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. Visitors of April’s Late at Tate can expect an evening of intrigue, collaboration and celebration.

Prominent feminist art historian and cultural analyst Griselda Pollock presents an illustrated talk entitled Encounters with Niki de Saint Phalle and her Moment looking at the context and significance of Niki de Saint Phalle’s monumental project HON, an interactive installation which celebrates femininity and received widespread attention from the world wide media. Pollock explores the creative collaboration between de Saint Phalle and Tinguely and the implications and issues of cross- gender partnerships. The discussion will start at 18:00, tickets cost £7 each, £5.50 for concessions and £4 for Tate members.Meanwhile, in the galleries, American academic Nancy Stoaks will reconsider de Saint Phalle’s ‘shooting’ paintings in a tour entitled Open Fire.

This month’s Late at Tate also offers visitors the opportunity to view a documentary that explores the construction of some of Niki de Saint Phalle’s major works in, Who is the Monster … Me or You? Peter Schamoni’s documentary gives a detailed account of the artist and her work from her early Shooting paintings of the 1960s to her momentous Gaudi-esque ornate garden in the hills of Tuscany.

Elsewhere in the building, visitors will be confronted with a series of moving sculptural performances by students of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, responding to Rodin’s The Kiss which features as part of our current DLA Piper Series: The Twentieth Century – How it looked & how it felt. These original and intriguing performances will take place in the adjoining spaces of the Gallery.

Since the start of 2008 Tate Liverpool and Maghull High School have been working together on a project entitled Creative Enterprises. The project has not only given the school’s AS level performing arts students the chance to showcase their works within the gallery but also the opportunity to go behind the scenes and meet with staff to gain invaluable insight into the running and inner workings of the Gallery. This month’s Late at Tate will see the students interpret the works of Niki de Saint Phalle through physical theatre. The performances promise to be unique and inspiring.

Tate Liverpool is engaging in a collaboration of its very own for this month’s Late at Tate – working with neighbouring National Museums Liverpool and the Remember Saro-wiwa charity to help promote environmental awareness, social equality and celebrate the life of Nigerian activist and writer Ken Saro-Wiwa. The night will feature performance poetry from Simon Murray AKA Symurai, an exclusive set from ‘Afropean’ DJ Eric Soul and rising Nigerian star Nneka who recently supported Gnarls Barkley and who will be accompanied by a band of West African Musicicans. Norwegian-born Liverpool singer-songwriter Ragz will be playing an acoustic set in the Tate Café. This songstress is receiving rave reviews for her spellbinding acoustic melodies – not to be missed.

Late at Tate is a series of monthly late-night openings taking place on the last Thursday of every month from 18.00–21.00. Visitors have the opportunity to drop-in after 18.00 and enjoy a series of one-off events themed around the artworks on display, see all the Tate Liverpool exhibitions, and enjoy a different kind of Tate experience. On Late at Tate nights, Tate Café will be open until 22.00 (last orders 21.30) and serving a special dinner menu - providing the perfect opportunity to refuel before or after enjoying an evening of art and culture. A bar in the foyer will provide refreshments for those enjoying the events. Entry to Tate Liverpool on Late at Tate nights will be free, although special exhibition entry, food and drink and selected events may incur a charge. In May a special birthday Late at Tate takes place on Saturday 3 May.